Improvement in harness



NAPEEES. FMDTGLITNDGRAPHER. WASHINGTON. D. C.

DAVID W'ALDHAUER,

Partnr riviere.

OF NEV YORK, N. Y.

IMPROVEMENT IN HARNESS.

Spcctcation forming part of Letters Patent No. 97,25ll, dated November 23, 1869.

drawings- Figure l represents a side elevation of this invention as applied to a horse. Fig. 2 is a transverse section of the same, the line a' x, Fig. 1, indicating the plane of section. Fig.

3 is a similar section of the clamp and sleeveY detached. Fig. 4 is aplan of top View of the sleeve and metal trace detached. Fig. 5 is a detached front view of the single-tree.

Similar letters indicate corresponding parts.

rlhis invention relates to an improvement in that portion of the harness which connects the draft-pole or thill and the Whiftletree or single-tree to the draft-animal.

The invention consists in a grooved metallic sleeve fitted on the draft-pole or thill, and

connected'to the draft-animal by means of a clamp, which is attached to the girth or bodyband and to the saddle, in such a manner that the draft-animal can be readily connected or disconnected, and that the draft-pole or thill is protected against wear from the belts usually employed to formthe connection between the draft-pole or thill and the draft-animal. The sleeve is provided with a recess to receive the end of a metallic trace or draft-bar, in such manner that said draft-bar is held firmly in connection with the sleeve as long as said sleeve is attached to the pole or thill; but as soon as the sleeve is withdrawn from the pole or thill it disconnects automatically from the draft-bar or trace. The rear end of each trace is provided with anbutton, and works in an oblong slot in a bracket or lug attached to the whiflletree or single-tree, so that said tree is not obstructed in its oscillating motion. The whiiiietree is attached to the thill or pole by a movable catch, which can be released by pulling a cord or strap from the driversseat, and if the whiffletree is released the sleeves are withdrawn from the pole or thill and the draft-animal detaches himself from the pole 0r thill.

In thedrawings, the letter A represents the saddle,which is attached to the horse or draftanimal by a girth or belly-band, B. To the saddle are connected two belts, a, one on each side, and from these belts are suspended the clamps b. These clamps are constructed each with two semicircular jaws, which turn on a common pivot, and from each jaw extends an arm provided with a loop, the arm of the upper jaw to connect with the belt a and the arm of the lower jaw to connect with the belt c, which is secured in the buckles d, attached to a b-elt that slides in one or more loops, Z, secured tothe girth B. By pulling the belt c on one side of the horse, both the clamps close and are made to catch in a sleeve, C, which slides loosely on the draft-pole or thill D. This sleeve is provided with two ormore different circular grooves to receive the clamp, so that the harness can be adjusted for draftanimals of different sizes. If the belt or shaftband c, instead of being made to slide through a loop on the girth,were irmly secured to said girth, the clamps b could 'only be closed by tightening the shaft-bands on both sides, and the operation of harnessing the horse would be more complicated and troublesome. The pivots of the clamps b are provided with loops e to attach the breeching, if it is desired, although it must be remarked that with my harness no breeching is required. The sleeves C are provided with projections f, which, when .said sleeves are in position, are situated close under the poles of the thills, and each of which cross-shaped end of the metallic trace or draft rod h. If one of the sleeves is drawn out beyond its pole,fit drops down and becomes disconnected from its metallic trace; but as long as the sleeve is on its pole the trace is firmly locked in the recess g. The rear ends of the metallic traces pass through oblong slots in lugs t', secured to the ends of the single-tree F, and they (the metallic traces) are provided with heads j, so that they cannot be drawn out of the lugs i'. By providing said lugs with oblong slots the single-tree is not obstructed in its oscillating motion. The single-tree F is connected to the pole or thill by means of a catch, k, of ,any suitable construction, and so arranged that it can be thrown open by pulling a strap or cord from the drivers seat. If the catch is opened, the singleis provided with a recess, g, to receive theV tree F becomes detached, and as the horse pulls the sleeves G are drawn out beyond the thill, so that they drop down,and thereby the horse is detached from the metallic traces, so that all danger is avoided if the horse should become frightened or unmanageable. The horse, on being detached, does not carry anything with him except the harness, and he is not liable to become injured by the traces or other parts flapping around his legs.

By this arrangement the construction of the parts Which form the connection between the thill and the draft-animal is materially simplified and the operation of attaching and detaching thel draft-animal is rendered easy; and, furthermore, provision is madefora safety attachment whereby the draft-animal can be readily and instantaneously detached in case of danger.

Vhat I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

l. The clamps b, attached to the saddle and supporting the shafts, substantially as described.

2. The sleeve C, Working on the shaft, in combination with the clamps b, substantially as set forth.

3. rIhe projection f onthe sleeve, in combination with metallic traces or draft-rods, substantially as described.

4. The oblong slots in the lugs of the whif- 

